Server system rack drawer with keyboard, flat panel display and electronic switch

ABSTRACT

A drawer ( 20 ) for a server system rack ( 12 ) includes a tray ( 38 ) and an electronic switch ( 30 ). The tray ( 38 ) and the electronic switch ( 3 ) are secured to the rack ( 12 ) by mounting rails ( 52 ), which are secured to the rack ( 12 ) by mounting brackets ( 53, 54 ) having toolless fasteners ( 99 ). Telescoping slide assemblies ( 56 ) secure the tray ( 38 ) to the mounting rails ( 52 ) for moving from a position disposed within the rack ( 12 ) to a position extending outward of the rack ( 12 ). A keyboard ( 22 ) and a display ( 26 ) are mounted to the tray ( 38 ). The electronic switch ( 30 ) is mounted rearward of the tray ( 38 ), and remains stationary with respect to the rack ( 12 ). A flexible cable management arm ( 48 ) extends between the tray ( 38 ) and the electronic switch ( 30 ) for securing cabling ( 34 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to hardware for computersystems, and, in particular, to a drawer for mounting a keyboard, a flatpanel display and an electronic switch within a server system rack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Server system racks have been provided for housing equipment, such asnetwork server systems, telephone switch gear, power supplies, and thelike. Industry standards have been adopted for server system racks,including adopting of a standard unit size for vertical heights,horizontal widths and horizontal depths of system racks. One suchstandard size for racks is a width of nineteen inches. The verticalheight of components for installing into server system racks istypically expressed in terms of a standard vertical unit of measure “U”which corresponds to 1.75 inches. Various components have been securedto the server system racks using threaded fasteners, which have includedbolts and screws that require hand tools to secure the variouscomponents to the server system racks. Components can be assembled toserver system racks much more quickly and efficiently without usingfasteners that require hand tools. Such components for securing withinserver system racks have included input devices, such as keyboards, andoutput devices, such as video display monitors. Prior art keyboards anddisplay monitors can occupy large amounts of space in server systemracks. Recently, flat panel displays have been used to provide displaymonitors of smaller size for mounting within drawers of server systemracks. The flat panel displays have been pivotally mounted to thedrawers, such that the monitors may be disposed in a horizontal positionfor storage, and then raised to an upright position for viewing once thedrawer is pulled outward of the server system rack. Input and outputdevices, such as keyboards, mice, touch pads and display monitors, areconnected to the servers used in a server system rack to allow users toaccess the servers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A one-U vertical height monitor and keyboard drawer for a server systemrack includes a movable tray and an electronic switch. The moveable trayand the electronic switch are mounted to the server system rack by a setof mounting rails, which are self-adjusting. Telescoping slideassemblies are mounted to the mounting rails and slidably secure thetray to the server system rack for moving from an inward position,disposed within the rack, to an extended position, extending outward ofthe rack. A keyboard and a flat panel display are mounted to the tray,with the flat panel display being pivotally mounted to the tray formoving from a downward, storage position into an upright, viewingposition. The electronic switch is fixedly mounted to the mountingrails, rearward of the tray, such that the electronic switch isstationary with respect to the mounting rails and the server systemrack. The electronic switch is preferably secured to a stationary mount,such as a shelf or mounting bracket, which is secured to the mountingrails. The electronic switch is selectively operated to connect thekeyboard and the flat panel display to various ones of the keyboard andmonitor connectors of respective servers.

A plastic, molded, flexible cable management arm is secured between therear of the tray and the electronic switch for securing cabling whichconnects the electronic switch to the keyboard and the flat paneldisplay. The flexible cable management arm is preferably formed of asingle piece of molded plastic, with hinges molded directly into thesingle piece of molded plastic. The hinges are provide by oppositelydisposed grooves, formed in opposite sides of hinge regions of thesingle piece of molded plastic. Cable retention tabs are integrallymolded into the single piece of molded plastic to define L-shaped tabmembers. Adjacent ones of the cable retention tabs extend fromalternating ones of opposite edges of the single piece of moldedplastic, with outer portions of the tab members extending across thesingle piece of molded plastic, spaced apart from a main body portion ofthe molded plastic cable management arm. Apertures are formed into themain body of the single piece of molded plastic, with one of theapertures being disposed adjacent to each of the cable retention tabs.

Mounting brackets with toolless fastening are included as part ofself-adjusting mounting rails which secure the drawer to the serversystem rack. The mounting brackets have elongated bodies for slidablysecuring to respective mounting rails. The brackets and the mountingrails extend between posts of a rack frame of the server system rack.Latch members are slidably secured to respective ones of the mountingbrackets to provide a toolless fastening feature, for lineally movingwith respect to the elongated bodies of the brackets to selectivelysecure ends of the mounting rails to the rack frame. The latch membersmay be provided by plungers having tapered surfaces. Guide surfacesslidably engage the latch members and retain the latch members formoving in lineal directions with respect to the mounting brackets andthe mounting rails to which respective ones of the latch members areslidably secured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cutaway view of a server system rack having a drawer whichincludes a keyboard, a flat panel display and an electronic switch,showing the drawer in an extended position and the flat panel display inan upward, viewing position;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view of the server system rack of FIG. 1, showingthe drawer in an inward position and the flat panel display in adownward, stowed position;

FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the cabinet in FIG. 1, showing the drawer ina fully extended, outward position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded, cutaway view of the server system rack of FIG. 1,showing various components of the drawer in perspective;

FIG. 5 is a rearward, perspective view of the drawer for the serversystem rack;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket for pivotallymounting the flat panel display to the drawer of the server system rack;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are exploded views of clutch assemblies for pivotallymounting the flat panel display to the drawer of the server system rack;

FIGS. 8 through 11 are various views of a left-hand mounting brackethaving a toolless fastening and release latch for securing one end of amounting rail to a frame of the server system rack;

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a right-hand mounting bracket having atoolless fastening and release latch for securing one end of a mountingrail to the frame of the server system rack;

FIG. 13 is a partial, cutaway view of a rack frame with a left-handmounting bracket secured to the rack frame;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an alternative left-hand mountingbracket for securing one end of the mounting rails to the frame of theserver system rack;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative drawer for a serversystem rack;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a one piece, flexible, molded plasticcable management arm of the alternative drawer of the server systemrack;

FIG. 17 is a partial, section view of the molded cable management arm,taken along section line 17—17 of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a rearward view of an alternative embodiment for anelectronic switch and cabling for use with the drawer of the serversystem rack;

FIG. 19 is a rearward view of a second alternative drawer for a serversystem rack;

FIG. 20 is a rearward view of a third alternative drawer for a serversystem rack;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a mounting bracket for an electronicswitch;

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an alternative left-hand mounting railhaving a mounting bracket which includes a toolless, tapered plungerlatch;

FIG. 23 is a partial, perspective view of the alternative mounting railand the toolless mounting bracket with the tapered plunger latch;

FIG. 24 is a partial perspective view of the alternative mounting rail,showing a rearwardly disposed left-hand mounting bracket having atoolless, tapered plunger latch;

FIG. 25 is a partial perspective view of the alternative mounting rail,showing a forwardly disposed, tapered plunger latch;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of one of the tapered plunger latches;

FIG. 27 is a longitudinal section view of one of the tapered plungerlatches, taken along section line 27—27 of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a partial, cutaway view of a rack frame with a mountingbracket having a tapered plunger latch secured to the rack frame;

FIG. 29 is an alternative mounting bracket having dual tapered plungerlatches;

FIG. 30 is a partial, cutaway view of a rack frame having round mountingholes with the alternative mounting bracket having dual tapered plungerlatches mounted to the rack frame;

FIG. 31 is an alternative mounting bracket having round mounting postsfor securing to rack frames having round mounting apertures; and

FIG. 32 is a partial, cutaway view of a rack frame having round mountingapertures with the alternative mounting bracket with round mountingposts secured to the rack frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 through 3 are cutaway views of a server system rack 12 having adrawer 20 which is moveable into various positions. The server systemrack 12 is of a type which is commonly used in network server systems,telephone switch gear, power supplies, and the like. The server systemrack 12 includes an enclosure 14, a door 16 and a rack frame 18. Therack frame 18 is of the type having regularly spaced apertures 19. Thedrawer 20 is mounted to the rack frame 18 such that the drawer 20 isslidably extensible from within the enclosure 14. The drawer 20 has astandard, one-U vertical height. The width of the server system rack 12may be of any size, such as for fitting within a standard nineteen inchwide rack. In a first embodiment, the drawer 20 includes a movable tray38 and a stationary mount provided by a stationary shelf 40. In otherembodiments, some of which are discussed below, stationary mountingmeans other than a stationary shelf 40 may be provided.

A keyboard 22, a pointing device 24, such as a mouse, and a flat paneldisplay 26 provide interface devices which are mounted to the movabletray 38. The keyboard 22 and the pointing device 24 each providerespective input devices, which may be included in a single unit in someembodiments. Other types of input devices may also be used, such astouch screens, touch pads, audio microphones, and the like. The flatpanel display 26 provides a display monitor which is pivotally mountedto the drawer 20 by a pivot mounting bracket 28, such that the flatpanel display 26 may be moved between a downward, stowed position (shownin FIGS. 2 and 3), and an upright, viewing position (shown in FIG. 1).An electronic switch 30 and a power supply 32 are mounted to thestationary shelf 40 of the drawer 20. In some embodiments, the powersupply 32 may be mounted to the moveable tray 38. The stationery shelfis a stationery mount which provides stationary mounting means forsecuring the electronic switch 30 and the power supply 32 to mountingrails 52, in fixed relation to the mounting rails 52, such that theelectronic switch 30 and the power supply 32 remain in a stationaryposition with respect to the mounting rails 52. The electronic switch 30is provided by a switching unit which is selectively operable forselectively connecting the keyboard 22, the pointing device 24 and theflat panel display 26 to separate ones of the various servers which areinterconnected with the server system rack 12, at separate times. Thepower supply 32 provides power for the flat panel display 26, and mayalso optionally provide power to the electronic switch 30. A cable set34 (shown in phantom in FIG. 1) is provided for connecting the keyboard22, the pointing device 24 and the flat panel display 26 to theelectronic switch 30 and the power supply 32. A plurality of cable sets36 (one shown in FIG. 1) are provided for connecting the electronicswitch 30 to respective ones of various associated servers which areused with the server system rack 12. Typically, one of the cable sets 36connects between keyboard, display and pointing device connectors of theelectronic switch 30 and the keyboard, display and pointing deviceconnectors of one of the associated servers. One of the cable sets 36 isused for the cable set 34. The cable set 34 will in typically include anadditional power cable, for providing power between the power supply 32and the display monitor 26. In embodiments in which the power supply 32is mounted directly to the moveable tray 38, a power cable will berequired for connecting between the power supply 32 and a power source.

The drawer 20 includes the movable tray 38 and the stationary shelf 40,with the shelf 40 disposed rearward of the tray 38. Preferably, the tray38 has a bottom plate 42 with a planar, upper surface 43. The shelf 40has a planar, upper surface 44, which is coplanar with the surface 43 ofthe tray 38. The surfaces 43 and 44 are horizontal surfaces. The surface44 of the shelf 40 is disposed rearward of the bottom plate 42 of themovable tray 38. A flexible, cable management arm 48 is provided forinterconnecting between the tray 38 and the shelf 40, for passing thecable set 34 between the tray 38 and the shelf 40. The flexible cablemanagement arm 48 may be provided by rigid linkages which are pivotallyinterconnected. Straps 50 secure the cable set 34 to the cablemanagement arm 48.

The tray 38 and the shelf 40 of the drawer 20 are mounted to the rackframe 18 with the mounting rails 52. Preferably, the mounting rails 52are self-adjusting for fitting within rack frames 18 of various depths.Mounting rails 52 are secured to the rack frame 18 with the mountingbrackets 53, 54, 55 and 57. The mounting brackets 53 and 54 includetoolless fasteners. The shelf 40 is fixedly mounted to the mountingrails 52 for securing to the rack frame 18, such that the shelf 40 isstationary, that is, the shelf 40 does not move relative to the rackframe 18. The shelf 40 is mounted directly to the mounting rails 52. Themovable tray 38 is mounted to the mounting rails 52 by slide rails 56.The slide rails 56 are provided by either ball bearing or friction typeslide rails. Two handles 58 and two latches 60 are mounted on oppositesides of a forward end of the tray 38 of the drawer 20. In someembodiments, the mounting rails 52 which attach directly to the rackframe 18 are provided by the outer rails of the slide rails 56.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the server system rack 12, shown inperspective. The mounting rails 52 each have a rail 62, and include themounting brackets 53, 54, 55 and 57. The rail 62 has a plurality ofslots 66 for slidably receiving the fasteners 68, which extend throughthe mounting brackets 53 and 54. The mounting brackets 53 and 54 includetoolless fasteners for securing directly to the rack frame 18. Themounting brackets 55 and 57 (shown in FIG. 3) are disposed on oppositeends of respective ones of the mounting brackets 53 and 53 for securingopposite ends of the mounting rails 52 to the rack frame 18. Theelectronic switch 30 and the power supply 32 are mounted to the shelf40. In some embodiments, the power supply 32 may be mounted to themoveable tray 38. The cable management arm 48 connects between the shelf30 and the tray 38. The flat panel display 26, the keyboard 22 and thepointing device 24 are mounted to the tray 38. The inner rails of theslide rail 56 are directly mounted to the tray 38.

FIG. 5 is a rearward, perspective view of the drawer 20. The flat paneldisplay 26 is pivotally mounted to the tray 38 by the pivot mountingbracket 28. The pivot mounting bracket 28 includes two mounting brackets74 which mount to opposite sides of the display 26 and directly to thefooting provided by the raised mounting surfaces 78 of the bottom 42 ofthe tray 38. The flat panel display 26 is mounted to a backplate 72 ofthe pivot mounting bracket 28. The cable arm 48 may be provided by aconventional cable management arm having a linkage 84 which is pivotallyconnected to a linkage 86 by a hinge 88. Opposite ends of the cable arm48 have brackets 87 and 89 for securing the linkages 84 and 86 to therearward end of the tray 38 and the forward end of the shelf 40,respectively. The straps 50 are provided for securing the cable set 34(shown in FIG. 1) to the linkages 84 and 86.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the pivot mounting bracket 28. Oppositeends of the backplate 72 are pivotally connected to the mountingbrackets 74 by the clutch assemblies 80. The clutch assembles 80 includebackplate brackets 82, to which the backplate 72 is secured withfasteners 81. The backplate brackets 82 each have a planar surface 83 towhich a flat, or planar, portion of the backplate 72 is secured, flushwith the planar surface 83. A lower portion of the backplate 72 isformed to have a Z-shaped cross-section, defining a shoulder 71 whichfaces in a generally upwards direction when the backplate 72 is disposedin an upright position relative to the horizontally extending, moveabletray 38. An offset section 73 extends outward from the backplate 72,spaced apart from the shoulder 71 and substantially parallel to theshoulder 71, to provide an offset for an upper, planar mounting portion75 of the backplate 72. The shoulder 71 and the offset section 73 extendperpendicular to the main body of the backplate 72. The upper, planarmounting portion 75 of the backplate 72 is coplanar with the lowermostportion of the backplate 72 which mounts to the planar surfaces 83 ofthe clutch assemblies 80. Four mounting holes 77 are provided in theportion 75. The pivot mounting bracket 28 further includes two mountingbrackets 74 having mounting feet 76. The mounting feet 76 are mountedwith fasteners to the footing 78 (shown in FIG. 5).

FIGS. 7A and 7B are exploded views of the clutch assemblies 80, lookingdownward on the two mounting brackets 74. Two backplate brackets 82 eachhave a planar mounting surface 83, apertures 85 for receiving thefasteners 81 (shown in FIG. 6), a planar shoulder 84 and a shank 86. Theplanar mounting surfaces 83 extend parallel to respective longitudinalaxes of the clutch assemblies 80, and the planar shoulders 84 extendperpendicular to the mounting surface 83 and the respective longitudinalaxes of the clutch assemblies 80. The shanks 86 of the backplatebrackets 82 each have threaded ends 88. A bracket washer 90 has a flatportion which mounts directly against the shoulder 84, and an outwardend which extends at a right angle to the flat portion and engages thetop of a respective one of the two brackets 74 to provide a stop means.Belleville-type washers 92 and flat washers 94 are secured betweenthreaded nuts 96 and respective ones of the two mounting brackets 74 toprovide a spring force which presses innermost ones of the flat washers94 against the upwardly extending, planar surfaces 91 of respective onesof the two brackets 74 to provide a frictional engagement for retainingthe backplate 72 and the flat panel display 26 in an upright positionrelative to the tray 38. The belleville-type washers 92 and the flatwashers 94 thus together provide frictional engagement members, orretaining members, of a frictional engagement means for retaining thebackplate 72 in a selected angular position relative to the tray 38.

FIGS. 8 through 11 are various views of the left-hand mounting bracket54, with FIG. 8 showing a partial view of the rail 62 of the mountingrail 52. The left-hand bracket 54 provides a toolless mounting fastenerhaving a lineally sliding latch member 99, which is guided to move inlineal directions relative to the mounting rails 52, rather than inarcuate or angular directions. The left-hand mounting bracket 54includes a slide bracket 97 having an elongated body 98 in which threeslots 95 are formed. The three slots 95 extend parallel to alongitudinal length of the elongated body 98 of the slide bracket 97,and are configured for aligning with the slots 66 (shown in FIG. 4) inone of the mounting rails 52. Fasteners 68 extend between the slots 95in the elongated body 98 and the slots 66 in the mounting rail 52 forslidably securing the mounting bracket 54 to the mounting rail 52, suchthat the combined length of the mounting rail 52 and the mountingbracket 54 is self-adjusting when being mounted to the rack frame 18.The mounting bracket 54 includes the latch member 99 which is slidablysecured to the slide bracket 97 and biased into an extended, or latched,position by a spring 100 to secure the mounting bracket 54 to the rackframe 18. The latch member 99 is moveable between the latched positionand a released position for selectively fastening the mounting bracket54 to the rack frame 18 and releasing the mounting bracket 54 from therack frame 18 without the use of tooling.

The slide bracket 97 includes a tab 101 which extends transverse to aplanar surface and the longitudinal length of the elongated body 98. Aslot 102 is formed into the side of the tab 101, extending from an edgeof the tab 101 which is opposite the side of the tab adjacent to theelongated body 98, and extending inwards toward the elongated body 98,in a direction which is transverse to the length of the elongated body98. A second tab 103 extends on a terminal end of the bracket 97,transverse to the elongated body 98 and parallel to the first tab 101.The second tab 103 is spaced apart from the first tab 101. The secondtab 103 has an aperture 104 which is aligned with an inward portion ofthe slot 102 of the tab 101. A clip member 105 is provided by aprotuberant member which extends from the upward end of the tab 103. Theclip member 105 has an inner portion which extends transverse to aplanar surface of the second tab 103, and has an outer portion whichextends in a downward direction, parallel to the planar surface of thesecond tab 103, to provide a latch member for latching the second tab103 to the rack frame 18. On the bottom portion of the tab 103 is atang, or tab member, 106 provided by a protuberant member which extendsin an outward direction, transverse to the planar surface of the secondtab 103, and parallel to the direction of the length of the elongatedbody 98 and the rail 62 of the mounting rail 52. The clip member 105 andthe tab member 106 are aligned and spaced apart for fitting within twoof the apertures 19 of the rack frame 18 (shown in FIG. 1), with theaperture 104 aligned with one of the apertures 19 which is disposedbetween the two of the apertures 19 in which respective ones of the clipmember 105 and tab member 106 are disposed.

The latch member 99 includes a guide portion 107 defined by a flat platemember having a guide aperture 108 extending therethrough. The guideportion 107 includes a planar surface for slidably fitting alongside aplanar portion of the elongated body 98 in a sliding engagement. Theguide aperture 108 is disposed in the planar surface of the guideportion 107 and is sized for receiving the tab 101 in a slidingarrangement. The latch member 99 further includes a flange 109 whichextends transverse to the planar surface that provides the guide portion107. The flange member 109 has a post 110 which extends transverse to aflat, or planar, surface of the flange 109. The post 110 extendsparallel to the planar surface of the guide portion 107 and the guideaperture 108. The post 110 is slidably received within the slot 102 ofthe first tab 101. The latch member 99 further includes a latch tab 111which is provided by a protuberant tab which extends forward of theflange 109 for being received within the aperture 104 of the second tab103. The latch tab 111 movably extends through the aperture 104 in thesecond tab 103 for extending into one of the apertures 19 in the rackframe 18. The latch tab 111 is formed from a forwardly extending tang ofmetal which has a height which is slightly smaller than the height ofthe apertures 19, and which is formed to have a bend of approximatelyone-hundred and eighty degrees, such that opposite sides of the tang arespaced apart to define a width of approximately the width of theapertures 19. The clip member 105 and the tab member 106 also havewidths which are slightly smaller than the width of the apertures 19 ofthe rack frame 18. The guide portion 107, the flange member 109 and thelatch tab 111 of the latch member 99 are formed of a single member anddisposed in fixed relation to one another. The post 110 is fixedlysecured to the flange 109.

The latch member 99 is slidably coupled to the bracket 97, with the tab101 slidably extending within the guide aperture 108, the post 110slidably extending within the slot 102, and the latch tab 111 slidablyextending through the aperture 104. The spring 100 is disposed aroundthe post 110 and exerts a biasing force between the flange 109 and thetab 101, such that the latch tab 111 is urged to move outward of andthrough the hole 104 to extend outward of the second tab 103. A user maypush the flange 109 lineally rearward, along a straight line, toward thefirst tab 101 and against the force of the spring 100, which urges thelatch tab 111 to retract back into the aperture 104. The clip member 105may then be inserted through one of the regularly spaced apertures 19 ofthe rack frame 18, with the tab member 106 also being simultaneouslyinserted into an upper portion of another of the apertures 19 of therack frame 18, which is spaced apart from the one of the apertures 19which receives the clip member 105. As the clip member 105 and the tabmember 106 are inserted in the respective apertures 19, the elongatedbody 98 of the mounting bracket 54 is free to slidably move relative tothe rail 62 of the mounting rail 52, such that the overall, combinedlength of the mounting rail 52 and the mounting bracket 54 may beautomatically adjusted by movement of the mounting bracket 54 relativeto the mounting rail 52. The mounting bracket 54 will then be movedlineally downward, along a straight line, to move the clip member 105and the tab member 106 downward within the respective ones of theapertures 19 of the rack frame 18, such that the outer portion of theclip member 105 will latch to the web of the rack frame 18 disposedbetween two adjacent ones of the apertures 19, latching the second tab103 and the mounting bracket 54 to the rack 12. The flange 109 may thenbe released to allow the spring 100 to urge the flange 109 to movelineally, along a straight line, towards the second tab 103, urging thelatch tab 111 to lineally pass through the aperture 104 and into one ofthe apertures 19 of the rack frame 18 to prevent the clip member 105 andthe tab member 106 from moving upward within the respective apertures16, and latching the mounting bracket 54 in a fixed, stationary positionrelative to the rack 12. The width and the height of the latch tab 111are the same approximate size as the apertures 19 in the rack frame 18,providing greater strength for the mounting bracket 54 as compared toprior art brackets which have smaller insertion tabs that aresignificantly smaller than the same, approximate size of the apertures19, such as those which are fifty to twenty percent the size of rackframe apertures to provide clearance when inserted by angular movementof prior art latch members into the rack frame apertures, rather thanlineal movement.

The mounting bracket 54 may be released in a similar fashion. The flange109 of the latch member 99 is first moved lineally toward the first tab101 to urge the latch member 99 rearward, compressing the spring 100between the flange 109 and the first tab 101 until the latch tab 111 isretracted from extending within one of the apertures 19 of the rackframe. Once the latch tab 111 is retracted from extending within one ofthe apertures 19, the mounting bracket 54 may be moved lineally upwardsto remove the outer portion of the clip member 105 from being adjacentto the web of the rack frame 18 disposed between two adjacent ones ofthe apertures 19 and being in a position in which the outer portion ofthe clip member 105 is aligned for passing through the respective one ofthe apertures 19 of the rack frame 18. The tab 106 is simultaneouslymoved upwards within the respective aperture 19, and into a top regionof the respective aperture 19. The clip 105 and the tab 106 may then beremoved from within the apertures of the rack frame 19. Preferably, themounting bracket 54 remains slidably secured to the mounting rail 62,free to move in a lineal direction by the fasteners 68 slidably engagingin the slots 66 and 99, such that the overall, combined length of themounting bracket 54 and the rail 62 are self-adjusting.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of a right-hand toolless mounting bracket53, which is symmetrical to the mounting bracket 54. The mountingbracket 53 has the same components as the mounting bracket 54, exceptthat the mounting bracket 53 is a mirror image of the mounting bracket54. The elongated body 93 of the mounting bracket 53 is formed in anoppositely formed shape than that of the elongated body 98 of themounting bracket 53, being formed in what is herein defined as aright-hand orientation, for mounting on the rearward end of the one ofthe mounting rails 62 that is mounted on the right-hand side of the rackframe 18. It should also be noted that the right-hand mounting bracket53 may also be mounted to the forward end of the one of the mountingrails 62 which is mounted to the left-hand side of the rack frame 18.Similarly, the mounting bracket 54 may be mounted to either the rearwardend of the mounting rail 62 mounted to the left-side of the rack frame18, or the forward end of mounting rail 62 mounted to the right-side ofthe rack frame 18. The mounting bracket 53 includes the latch member 99,the tab 101, the slot 102, the tab 103, the aperture 104, the clipmember 105 and the tab member 106. The tab 101 is slidably received inthe guide aperture 108, with the post 110 extending within the slot 102of the tab 101. The latch tab 111 will extend through the aperture 104of the tab 103 for fitting within the one of the apertures 19 of therack frame 18, such that the latch member 99, in combination with thetab 101 and 103, provide a toolless mounting fastener.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the right-hand mounting bracket 54secured to the rack frame 18. The clip member 105 and the tab member 106have been inserted into two spaced apart mounting apertures 19 of therack frame 18. The latch tab 111 has been released to insert into one ofthe mounting apertures which is intermediate one of the two spaced apartmounting apertures 19 in which the clip member 105 and the tab member106 are inserted. Releasing the latch tab 111 into one of the apertures19, with the clip member 105 and the tab member 106 disposed within twoof the apertures 19, latches the mounting bracket 54 to the rack frame18.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a left-hand mounting bracket 55 forsecuring one of the self adjusting mounting rails 52 to the forward,right-hand side of the rack frame 18. A right-hand bracket 57 (shown inFIG. 3) is also provided that is identical to the bracket 55, having thesame structure, but formed for securing one of the mounting rails to theforward, left-hand side of the rack frame 18. The mounting brackets 55and 57 (one shown) each have a main body portion 113 having a terminalend face 115. The main body portion 113 secures to the rail 62 (shown inFIG. 4) and extends along the length of the mounting rail 62 (shown inFIG. 4). In some embodiments, the main body portion 113 is provided bythe rail 62, such that the portion 113 is integrally formed with therail 62 (shown in FIG. 4). The end face 115 is a planar surface whichextends transverse to, preferably perpendicular to, the length of themounting rail 62. A clip member 105 and a tab member 106 extend from theterminal end face 115. The clip member 105 is provided by a protuberantmember which extends from the upward end of the end face 115. A post 117is fixedly secured to the end face 115, and has a length and a widthwhich are approximately the same size as the apertures 19.

The clip member 105 has an inner portion which extends transverse to theplanar surface of the end face 115, and has an outer portion whichextends in a downward direction, parallel to the planar surface of theend face 115 to provide a latch member for latching respective ones ofthe mounting brackets 55 and 57 to the rack frame 18. A tang 106, or tabmember, is provided by a protuberant member which extends in an outwarddirection from the planar surface of the end face 115, and parallel tothe direction of the length of the elongated body 113 and respectiveones of the rails 62 of the mounting rails 52. The clip member 105 andthe tab member 106 are aligned and spaced apart for fitting within twoof the apertures 19 of the rack frame 18 (shown in FIG. 1), similar tothat described above for the mounting brackets 53 and 54, except thatthe post 117 is fixedly mounted to the end face 115, such that the post117 will not move relative to the end face 115. In other embodiments,the mounting brackets 53 and 54 may be used on opposite ends of themounting rails 52 in place of the mounting brackets 55 and 57, such thatthe latch members 99 will latch all four ends of the mounting rails 62to the rack frame 18. The elongated members 98 of the mounting brackets53 and 54 may also be provided by the rails 62, such that the brackets53 and 54 are integrally formed with the rails 62.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of an alternative drawer 112 having amovable tray 38 and a stationary shelf 40 with an alternative cablemanagement arm 114 connecting between the tray 38 and the shelf 40. Thealternative drawer 112 includes the keyboard 22, the pointing device 24,the flat panel display 26, the electronic switch 30 and the power supply32. The cable management arm 114 is provided by a flexible, singularmember formed of molded plastic with mounting ends 118, which mount tothe moveable tray 38 and the stationary shelf 40, respectively. Thecable management arm has apertures 138 and molded cable retention tabs140, which are disposed adjacent the apertures 138. The shelf 40 is astationary mount which provides a stationary mounting means for securingthe electronic switch 30 in fixed relation to the mounting rails 52. Thepower supply 32 may be mounted to either the shelf 40, as shown, or tothe moveable tray 38.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the one-piece, cable management arm 114which is formed of a single molded member 116, formed of a plastic, suchas polypropylene. The member 116 has a cross-section of a channel, witha planar, main body portion 145 and opposite edges 142 defining sidesthat are perpendicular to the planar, main body portion 145 to definereinforcing flanges. The cable management arm 114 has opposite mountingends 118. Integrally molded hinges 120 are formed into various portionsof the single member 116, with lengths that extend transverse to alongitudinal axis 122 of the member 116. The hinges 120 definerespective ends of separate linkages 124, 126 and 128, and the endmounting tabs 130 and 134, of the single member 116 providing the cablemanagement arm 114. Mounting apertures 136 are provided in the tabs 130and 134 for receiving fasteners to secure the respective ends 118 to thetray 38 and the shelf 40, or directly to the electronic switch 30.Apertures 138 are formed into the member 116, being spaced apart alongthe longitudinal axis 122. Adjacent to each of the apertures 138 arecable retention tabs 140, which are molded, L-shaped portions of themember 116 which are spaced apart from a planar surface 145 of themember 116. The cable retention tabs 140 provide molded plastic cableretention means for securing a cable set 34 (shown in phantom in FIG. 1)which connects the electronic switch 30 and the power supply 32 to thekeyboard 22, the display 26 and the pointing device 24 of the tray 38.Adjacent ones of the molded retention tabs 140 have first portions 143which alternatively extend from the opposite edges 142 of the member116, transverse to the main, planar surface 145 of the member 116. Theretention tabs 140 have second portions 144 which extend transverse tothe first portions 143 of the tabs 140, and parallel to the main surface145 of the member 116, spaced apart from the surface 145. Adjacent onesof the first portions 143 of the tabs 140 extend from alternate ones ofthe opposite edges 142 of the member 116.

FIG. 17 is a partial, section view across a hinge region defined by oneof the molded hinges 120 of the single molded member 116 providing thecable management arm 114, taken along section line 17—17 of FIG. 16. Twonotches, or indentations, 121 and 123 extend into opposite sides of thesingular member 116, extending across the width of the singular member116, and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 122 (shown in FIG. 16).Two grooves are defined by the two notches 121 and 123 which areoppositely disposed, in a back-to-back alignment on opposite side of thehinge region of the hinge 120. The two notches 121 and 123 are eachrespectively symmetrical about a central plane 125 of the hinge 120. Thenotch 123 is concave and provides a surface with a generally arcuate, orrounded, shape. The notch 121 is concave and has a generally rectangularshape. The outward edges of the notches 121 and 123 are chamferred, toallow the molded hinge 120 to bend around the plane 125 to a ninetydegree angle. Preferably, the hinges 120 between the linkages 124, 126and 128 bend such that the opposite edges of the notch 123 move closertogether and the outward edges of the notch 121 move further apart inbending about the plane 125. The hinges 120 between the tabs 130 and 134and the linkages 124 and 128 are mounted to the stationary electronicswitch 30 and the moveable tray 38 such that the outward edges of thenotch 121 move closer together in bending about the plane 125.

FIG. 18 is a rearward, perspective view of an alternative electronicswitch 154 for an alternative drawer 152. The switch 154 is housedwithin an enclosure 156 which is secured to the shelf 40. A power supply158 is also secured to the shelf 40. A plurality of cable sets 162 (oneshown) are provided for directly connecting the electronic switch 154 tovarious servers used with the server system rack 12. One of the cablesets 162 is used for connecting the electronic switch 154 to thekeyboard 22, the pointing device 24 and the flat panel display 26 to theelectronic switch 154. The cable set 162 has a first end with threeseparate connectors 164, 166 and 168 for securing directly to thekeyboard, pointing device and monitor jacks, respectively, of one of theassociated servers. The second end of the cable set 162 includes aconnector 144 which secures directly to the single connector 146 on theface of the electronic switch 154, and connects all three of theseparate connectors 164, 166 and 168 to the electronic switch 154. Thecable set 162 could also include a power cable for the display 26, or aseparate power cable may be used. In some embodiments, the power supply158 may be mounted to the moveable tray 38, and then a power cable isprovided for running from the rack frame 18, along a cable managementarm 114, and to the moveable tray 38.

FIG. 19 is a rearward view of an alternative drawer 170 having thekeyboard 22, the pointing device 24 and the display 26 which are mountedto the moveable tray 38, and an alternative electronic switch 172 and apower supply 174 which are fixedly mounted to the mounting rails 176 formounting to the rack frame 18. In some embodiments, the power supply 174may be mounted to the moveable tray 38. Mounting rails 176 secure thedrawer to the rack frame 18. The mounting brackets 53 and 54 are mountedto terminal ends of respective ones of the mounting rails 176, such thatthe total, combined length of the mounting rails 176 and respective onesof the mounting brackets 53 and 54 are self-adjusting to accommodatedifferent sizes of depths of the rack frames 18. The mounting brackets55 and 57 are mounted to respective ones of the forward ends of themounting rails 176. The electronic switch 172 and the power supply 174may be mounted directly to the mounting rails 176, without a stationaryshelf 40. Preferably, the electronic switch 172 and the power supply 174are fixedly secured together along the interface 180 between theelectronic switch 172 and the power supply 174 by means of a bracket184. In other embodiments, the electronic switch 172 and the powersupply may be secured together with adhesives, fasteners, or a platewhich extends along the edges of the undersides of the electronic switch172 and the power supply 174. Spacer brackets 178 are stationary mountswhich provide stationary mounting means for fixedly securing theelectronic switch 172 and the power supply 174 directly to mountingrails 176, in fixed relation to the rails 176. Preferably, the spacerbrackets 178 are integrally formed as part of the mounting rails 176,similar to the bracket 218 having the J-slots 220 of FIG. 21. In someembodiments, only one of the spacer brackets 178 may be required. Theelectronic switch 172 and the power supply 174 may also be mounteddirectly to the mounting rails 176 if the housings of the switch 172 andpower supply 174 have widths which are of a size to provide stationarymounting means for securing directly to the mounting rails 176.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the mounting bracket 184 for securingthe electronic switch 172 and the power supply 174 of FIG. 19 to themounting rails 176. The mounting bracket 184 is formed from a singularsheet 186 of material, such as a sheet metal. The sheet 186 is formed tohave a sidewall 188, which is secured directly to the electronic switch172, with fasteners being secured through the mounting holes 200 in thesidewall 188. A lower mounting surface 190 is formed, and may provide amounting surface for mounting the power supply 174, provided the powersupply 174 is not alternatively mounted to the moveable tray 38. Anintermediate portion of the sheet 186 provides an intermediate sidewall192. A second bracket potion 194 includes a sidewall 196. Two lugs 198are mounted to the second sidewall 196 for securing in J-slots formed inthe brackets 178 of the mounting rails 176, similar to the J-slots 220formed into the brackets 218 of FIG. 20. The mounting bracket 184 (shownin FIG. 20) is used to secure one side of an electronic switch 172 toone of the mounting rails 176. The side of the electronic switch 172,which is opposite to the side which is mounted to the mounting bracket184, may have lugs 198 mounted thereto for securing into the bracket 178of the mounting rail 176 mounted to the right side of the drawer.

FIG. 21 is a rearward view of an alternative drawer 200 having thekeyboard 22, the pointing device 24 and the display 26 which are mountedto the moveable tray 38 to provide interface devices. The power supply174 (shown in hidden lines) is mounted to the moveable tray 38, and asheet metal enclosure 202 is secured to the moveable tray 38 such thatthe enclosure 202 covers the power supply 174. The display 26 is mountedto the moveable tray 38 with an alternative pivot mounting bracket 204.The pivot mounting bracket 204 is similar to the pivot mounting bracket28 (shown in FIG. 6), and includes the clutch assemblies 80 forpivotally securing a backplate 206 to the moveable tray 38. Thebackplate 206 includes an offset section 207 and a planar mountingportion 208. The backplate 206 is similar to the backplate 72 of FIG. 6,except that the planar mounting portion 208 is offset relative to thecenter of the main body portion of the backplate 206, rather than beingcentered, such that the display 26 will be mounted to one side of themoveable tray 38. This provides space for mounting the power supply 174and the enclosure 202 to the moveable tray 38, disposed to one side ofthe display 26. A hole 210 is provided in the tray 38 for receiving aportion of the backplate 206.

The alternative electronic switch 172 is fixedly mounted to the mountingrails 176, rearward of the moveable tray 38. The mounting rails 176secure the drawer 200 to the rack frame 18. The mounting brackets 53 and54 are mounted to terminal ends of respective ones of the mounting rails176, such that the total, combined length of the mounting rails 176 andrespective ones of the mounting brackets 53 and 54 are self-adjusting toaccommodate various ones of the rack frames 18 having various depths.One side of the electronic switch 172 is fixedly mounted directly to theleft-side one of the brackets 178 of the mounting rails 176. The otherside of the electronic switch 172 is fixedly mounted directly to theU-shaped mounting bracket 184. The mounting bracket 184 is the same asthat shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, except that the lugs 196 have been movedfrom the mounting holes in which they are disposed in FIGS. 19 and 20 tothe mounting holes 198 (shown in FIG. 20), such that, as viewed from theforward end of the drawer 200, the mounting bracket 184 secures theright side of the electronic switch 172 to the right-side mounting rail176. The lugs 196 (shown in FIG. 20) secure the right side of themounting bracket 184 to the right-side spacer bracket 178 of right-sidemounting rail 176, fitting in J-slots which are similar to the J-slots220 (shown in FIG. 22) for the left-side mounting rail 214. Fasteners203 extend through the holes 198 (shown in FIG. 20) and into anenclosure housing of the power supply 172 to secure the U-shapedmounting bracket 184 to the power supply 172.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an alternative left-hand mounting rail212 having a toolless, mounting brackets 222 and 226, and taperedplunger latches 278 and 276, respectively. The mounting rail 212 isformed of a rail 214 having a flanged 215 formed on one longitudinal endas a stiffener. Mounting holes 216 are provided for securing to sliderails. In some embodiments, the rails 214 may be provided by rails froma slide rail assembly. A bracket 218 is provided having J-slots 220 forreceiving mounting lugs, such as the mounting lugs 198 of FIG. 20. Thebracket 218 is formed from the rail 214, as a singular member. Amounting bracket 222 is integrally formed on the forward end of the rail214 for securing the forward end of the mounting rail 212 to a serverrack frame. A mounting bracket 226 secured to a slide bracket 224, whichis mounted to the rearward end of the rail 214. The mounting bracket 226is mounted to the slide bracket 224 such that the mounting rail 212 willbe self-adjusting in length when being secured to a server rack frame.

FIG. 23 is a partial, perspective view of the alternative left-handmounting rail 212, showing an opposite side of the rail 214 from thatshown in FIG. 22. The slide bracket 224 includes an elongated strip 270which is slidably secured to the rail 214. The strip 270 includes threeelongated slots 272, with three fasteners 274 fixedly secured in therail 214 and slidably secured in respective ones of the three slots 272,such that the overall length of the mounting rail 212 is self adjustingfor fitting cabinets and rack frames of varying depths. A hole 254 isformed into a rearward portion of the strip 270. The bracket 218 isformed from an edge of the rail 214, and extends on an opposite side ofthe rail 214 from the elongated strip 270 of the slide bracket 224. Thetwo J slots 220 are provided in the bracket 218. The mounting bracket226 is mounted to the rearward end of the slide bracket 224.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged, partial perspective view of the rearward end ofthe mounting rail 212, showing the left-hand mounting bracket 226 havingthe tapered plunger latch 276. The bracket 218 is shown as being formedby bending an end portion of the rail 214 into a U-shaped channel. Theslots 220 are cut into an outer portion of the U-shaped channelproviding the bracket 218. The square-shaped hole 254 is formed into thestrip 270 of the bracket 224 to provide a mounting tab 256, whichextends perpendicular to the longitudinal length of the elongated strip270. A mounting hole 257 is formed into a central portion of themounting tab 256. The mounting hole 257 is round, and receives arearward end of a tapered plunger latch member 252 in a press fit tofixedly secure the rearward end of the latch member 252 to the tab 256in a cantilevered mounting arrangement. A rearward portion of the strip270 is formed to provide a tab 258, at a right angle to the main body ofthe strip 270. A guide hole 264 is formed into the tab 258 for slidablyreceiving the forward end of the tapered latch member 252. The guidehole 264 is closely sized to the outer diameter of the latch member 252,to provide structural support to the outer end of the plunger latchmember 252 since the rearward end of the latch member 252 is mounted tothe mounting tab 256 in the cantilevered arrangement. The top and thebottom portions of the tab 258 are formed to provide a clip member 260and a tab member 262. The tab member 262 extends at a right angle to therearward face of the tab 258. An initial portion of the clip member 260extends outward of the rearwardly disposed face of the tab 258,perpendicular to the rearward face of the tab 258. An outer portion ofthe clip member 260 is formed to extend downward, parallel to therearwardly disposed face of the tab 258 for securing a web portion ofthe rack frame between the clip member 260 and the rearward face of thetab 258. The tab 258 will extend through an aperture 19 of the rackframe 18, with the outward end of the latch member 252 extending throughone of the apertures 19 of the rack frame which is between two of theapertures 19 through which the clip member 260 extends and the tabmember 262 extends, respectively.

FIG. 25 is an enlarged, partial perspective view of the forward end ofthe mounting rail 212, showing the right-hand toolless mounting bracket222 having the tapered plunger latch 278. The mounting bracket 222 andthe tapered plunger latch 278 are substantially mirror images of themounting bracket 226 and the tapered plunger latch 276, shown in FIG.24. The mounting bracket 222 is integrally formed with, directly on therearward end of the rail 214, rather than providing a separate mountingbracket. A square hole 232 is formed into the rail 214 to provide amounting tab 234. A mounting hole 236 is formed into the mounting tab234. The mounting hole 236 is sized for press fitting the rearward endportion one of the latch members 252 into the mounting tab 234, fixedlymounted to the tab 234 in a cantilevered arrangement. The forward,terminal end of the rail 214 is formed at a right angle to the plane ofa main body portion of the rail 214 to provide a tab 238. A guide hole244 is formed into the tab 238 for slidably receiving the forward end ofthe latch member 252. The guide hole 244 is closely sized to the outerdiameter of the tapered plunger latch member 252, to provide structuralsupport to the outer end of the latch member 252 which is mounted to themounting tab 234 in the cantilevered arrangement. The upper and lowerends of the tab 238 are formed to define a clip member 240 and a tabmember 242, respectively. The clip member 240 has an initial portionwhich extends outward of the forward face of the tab 238, initiallyperpendicular to the forward face of the tab 238. An outer portion ofthe clip member 240 is formed to turn downward, and extend parallel tothe forward face of the tab 238 for retaining between the forward faceof the tab 238 and the outer portion of the clip member 240 a webportion of the rack frame 18, which is disposed between adjacent ones ofthe mounting apertures 19. The tab member 242 extends outward of and ata right angle to the forward face of the tab 238 for extending throughone of the apertures 19 of the rack frame 18.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of one of the latch members 252 havingtapered plunger members 286 with a tapered nose 288. The latch member252 has a cylindrical rearward portion 282 which defines a rearwardhousing, and a cylindrical forward portion 286 which defines a plungermember having a tapered nose section 288. The rearward end 284 of therearward portion 282 is knurled to facilitate press fitting to fixedlysecure or mount the rearward portion 282 into the mounting holes 236 and257 (shown in FIGS. 24 and 25). The tapered nose 288 allows the forwardend of the latch member 252 to be pressed rearward by the web portion ofthe rack frame 18 which is between the apertures 19 as the mountingbrackets 222 and 224 are secured to the rack frame 18.

FIG. 27 is a longitudinal section view of the latch member 252, takenalong section line 27—27 of FIG. 26. The cylindrical forward plungerportion 286 has the tapered nose 288. The terminal end of the forwardnose portion 288 has a planar face 290, which is perpendicular to thelongitudinal length of the latch member 252. The tapered nose 288 hassidewalls which taper to reduced diameters in a direction of the endface 290 of the nose 288, from larger diameters at the rearward end 300of the forward moveable portion 286. The taper of the nose 288 rangesradially inward from ten to forty degrees in a forward direction, asmeasured from the adjacent sidewall extending to the rearward end 300,and preferably is a radial taper of approximately twenty degrees. Arearward end of the forward, moveable piston portion 286 has a blindhole formed therein to define an interiorly disposed chamber 294, whichis open on the rearward end. A second blind hole is formed in thecylindrical housing providing the rearward portion 282 to provide aninteriorly disposed chamber 296, which is open on the forward end of therearward portion 282. A forward end of the rearward portion 282 fitswithin the rearward-facing opening of the chamber 294 of the forwardportion 286, with the rearward portion 282 aligned with the forwardportion 282 for the chambers 294 and 296 to together receive a biasspring 292.

The rearward cylindrical housing portion 282 has an outer periphery of agenerally cylindrical shape, with a forward end having an enlarged,annular-shaped section which defines a head 298. The head 298 fitswithin the opening of the chamber 294 of the forward plunger portion286, and the rearward end section 300 of the forward plunger portion iscrimped around the head 298, to retain the forward portion 286 on therearward portion 282, such that the forward portion 286 is slidablysecured to the rearward portion 282 for moving rearward over the head298 in a lineal, sliding arrangement. Rearward movement of the forwardportion 286 over the rearward portion 282 slidably moves the head 398further within the chamber 294. The bias spring 292 is disposed withinthe chambers 294 and 296 for urging the rearward portion 282 and theforward portion 286 to move apart, in opposite directions, such thatwhen the rearward end 284 of the rearward portion 282 is fixed in astationary position, the bias spring 292 will push against the forwardportion 286 to urge it to move away from the rearward portion 282.

FIG. 28 is a partial, cutaway view of the rack frame 18 with a mountingbracket 226 having the tapered plunger latch 276 secured to the rackframe 18. The plunger latch 276 includes a clip member 260, a tab member262 and a latch member 252. The clip member 260 extends through anupwardly disposed one of the apertures 19. The tab member 262 protrudesthrough a lower one of the apertures 19, which is spaced apart from theaperture 19 through which the clip member 260 extends. The tapered nose288 of the latch member 252 extends through an intermediate one of theapertures 19, which is disposed between the clip member 260 and the tabmember 262. The taper of the nose 288 of the latch member 252facilitates assembly of the latch 226 to the rack frame 18. The taperednose 288 of the latch member 252 is moved in a lineal direction, thatis, a straight line, relative to the mounting rail 212, the mountingbracket 226, the clip member 260 and the tab member 262 in beingassembled to the rack frame 18. The moveable section 286 having thetapered nose 288 of the latch member 252 is not moved in angulardirections relative to the mounting rail 212 and the mounting bracket226 when being secured to or removed from the rack frame 18. The linealmovement of the nose 288 of the moveable section 286 of the latch member252 allows the guide holes 244 and 264 (shown in FIGS. 24 and 25) to besized to provide vertical structural support, as well as allowing for acloser tolerance fit between periphery of the nose section 286 and theapertures 19 of the rack frame 18, to provide greater structural supportover latches which employ latch members which move in angulardirections, rather than lineally, that is, along a straight line.

FIG. 29 is an alternative mounting bracket 310 having a toolless latchprovided by latch members 252, for fitting round mounting apertures 319of a rack frame 318. (See FIG. 30). The latches members 252 each havetapered noses 288, which taper to smaller diameters in outwarddirections, in which the noses 288 are spring biased to extend toward.The bracket 310 is mounted to a mounting rail 312 and has a guide member314 having guide holes for guiding the lineal movement of the taperednoses 288 of the latch members 252. The rearward ends of the latchmembers 252 are fixedly mounted to the mounting rail 312. The upperportion of the guide member 314 is formed to provide a clip member 316for passing through the apertures 319 and securing to a web between theround apertures 319 of a rack frame 318.

FIG. 30 is a partial, cutaway view of the rack frame 318 having roundmounting apertures 319 with the alternative mounting bracket 310 havingdual latch members 252 secured to the rack frame 318. The clip member316 passes through one of the round apertures 319 and secures to a webportion of the rack frame 318 between two of the apertures 319. Thenoses 288 of the two latch members 252 extend through the guide member314 and into two of the apertures 319, spaced beneath the aperture 319in which the clip member 316 is disposed.

FIG. 31 is an alternative mounting bracket 322 for securing to the rackframe 318 having the round mounting apertures 319. The mounting bracket322 has a tapered latch members 252, the rearward end of which isfixedly mounted to a rail 324. A guide member 326 is provided forslidably receiving the tapered nose 288 of the latch member 252. A lowertab 328 is arcuately shaped for fitting within one of the round mountingapertures 319 of the rack frame 318. A clip member 330 extends forwardof the guide member 326 for securing to the rack frame 318.

FIG. 32 is a partial, cutaway view of the rack frame 318 having theround mounting apertures 319 with the alternative mounting bracket 322secured thereto. The round-shaped mounting tab 328 and the clip member330 extend through two spaced apart ones of the round mounting apertures319. The tapered nose 288 of the latch member 252 extends through one ofthe apertures 319 which is intermediate of the two apertures 319 throughwhich the mounting tabs 328 and 330 extend.

The present invention provides advantages over the prior art. A drawerfor a server system rack includes a moveable tray and a stationaryelectronic switch which are together mounted to the rack by mountingrails. Telescoping slide rails mount the moveable tray to the mountingrails. A keyboard, a pointing device, and a flat panel display aremounted to the moveable tray. The electronic switch and a power supplyare also mounted to the mounting rails. The electronic switch isoperable for selectively interconnecting the keyboard, the pointingdevice and the display of the drawer to various ones of servers usedwith the server system rack. The electronic switch is mounted in astationary position which is rearward of the moveable tray, and connectsto the keyboard, display and the pointing device, such that only one setof keyboard, display and pointing device cables are required to beconnected to the movable tray of the drawer. Such cables are mounted toa cable management arm which extends between the electronic switch andthe moveable tray. The cable management arm is provided by a flexiblelength of molded plastic, having retention tabs molded directly into thelength of the molded plastic.

Two lineally sliding latches are provided to provide toolless mountingbrackets for securing slide rails of to rack frames. One lineallysliding latch has a latch member is slidably mounted to a mountingbracket for guiding to move lineally by guide tabs engaging within guideapertures. Another slide latch provides a latch member having a taperedplunger member which is moveable. The moveable plunger member has atapered nose portion, such that the latch is more easily operated forinserting into regularly spaced apertures of a rack frame. The taperednose of latch is operated by moving the tapered nose in linealdirections relative to a fixedly mounted portion of the latch member. Aguide hole is provided for guiding the tapered moveable end nose of thelatch member in lineal directions relative to the fixedly mountedportion of the latch member. Moving the latch members lineally allowsthe latch members to be slidably secured by guide members, strengtheningthe lineally sliding latches over latches which have latch members whichare moved in arcuate directions.

Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, itshould be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterationscan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drawer for a server system rack, comprising incombination: a tray; interface devices mounted to said tray; telescopingslide assemblies having inner rails and outer rails, said outer railsmounted to the server system rack and said inner rails mounted to saidtray to movably secure said tray to the server system rack, such thatsaid tray is movable from an inward position, substantially disposedwithin the server system rack, to an outward position, extending outwardof the server system rack; an electronic switch fixedly secured to arearward end of said outer rails of said slide assemblies, wherein saidelectronic switch is selectively operable to connect said interfacedevices to selectable ones of a plurality of servers; a first cable setwhich connects said electronic switch to said interface devices; aplurality of cable sets connecting the plurality of servers to saidelectronic switch; a flexible cable arm secured between said tray andsaid electronic switch; and cable retention members securing said firstcable set to said flexible cable arm.
 2. The drawer according to claim1, further comprising a stationary mount disposed in fixed relation toat least one of said outer rails of said telescoping slide assemblies,rearward of said tray, wherein said electronic switch is fixedly securedto said stationary mount to secure said electronic switch to said outerrails.
 3. The drawer according to claim 1, wherein at least onerespective end of each said outer rails of said slide rail assembliesare mounted to the server system rack by mounting brackets which definemoveable sections that are slidably coupled to said respective ends ofsaid outer rails, such that said moveable sections are free to slidablymove relative to respective ones of said outer rails, for telescopicallyadjusting longitudinal combined lengths of said moveable sections andsaid respective ones of said outer rails, for fitting a horizontal depthof the server system rack; and said mounting brackets further comprisingmounting tabs which extend outward of one side of said mountingbrackets, opposite said respective ends of said slide rails, forengaging within mounting apertures in a rack frame of the server systemrack.
 4. The drawer according to claim 1, a toolless fastener mounted toat least one end of each of said outer rails, said toolless fastenerhaving a latch member with a forwardly extending latch portion which isselectively moveable in a lineal direction to selectively engage withina rack frame of the server system rack.
 5. The drawer according to claim2, wherein said stationary mount comprises a stationary shelf whichextends between said outer slide rails, rearward of said tray.
 6. Thedrawer according to claim 2, wherein said stationary mount comprisesmounting brackets formed from rearward end portions of respective onesof said outer rails of said slide rails, and said mounting bracketsextending to define U-shaped channel having slots formed on interiorsides of said mounting brackets for receiving mounting lugs secured tosaid electronic switch.
 7. The drawer according to claim 4, wherein saidtoolless fastener comprises: a bracket having an elongated body, a firsttab and a second tab which extend transverse to said elongated body,with said first tab being spaced apart from said second tab, said firsttab having a slot formed into a side thereof and said second tab beingdisposed on a terminal end of said elongated body, said second tabhaving an aperture which is aligned in fixed relation with said slotformed in said first tab; and said latch member further having a guideportion which extends adjacent to and slidably engages said elongatedbody of said bracket, and a latch tab which defines said forwardlyextending latch portion, said latch tab extending parallel to said guideportion and through said aperture of said second tab, wherein said latchmember being slidably engaged with said bracket for selectively movingsaid latch member to selectively extend said latch tab from within saidaperture in said second tab of said bracket.
 8. The drawer according toclaim 4, wherein said toolless fastener comprises: a bracket having anelongated body, a first tab and a second tab which extend transverse tosaid elongated body, with said first tab being spaced apart from saidsecond tab, said first tab having a slot formed into a side thereof andsaid second tab being disposed on a terminal end of said elongated body,said second tab having an aperture which is aligned in fixed relationwith said slot formed in said first tab; a latch member further having aguide portion which extends adjacent to and slidably engages saidelongated body of said bracket, and said latch member further havingflange which extends transverse to said guide portion, a post whichextends from said flange generally parallel to said guide portion, and alatch tab which defines said forwardly extending latch portion and whichextends parallel to said guide portion and outward of said flange,transverse to said flange; said latch member being slidably engaged withsaid bracket, with said guide portion of said latch member extendingadjacent to said elongated body of said bracket, said guide portion ofsaid latch member having an aperture slidably receiving said first tabof said bracket, and said latch tab extending through said aperture insaid second tab, and said post extending from said flange of said latchmember into said slot in said first tab of said bracket; a bias memberextending between said first tab of said bracket and said flange of saidlatch member, such that said latch member is urged toward said secondmember with said latch tab protruding outward of said aperture of saidlatch tab; and two protuberant members extending from said second tabmember of said bracket, in a direction in which said latch tab protrudesfrom within said aperture of said latch tab, wherein said twoprotuberant members and said latch tab are lineally aligned to extend inparallel, transverse from a line along which said two protuberantmembers and said latch tab are lineally aligned, for fitting withinmounting apertures of the rack frame of the server system rack.
 9. Thedrawer according to claim 4, wherein said latch member of said toollessfastener comprises a rearward portion and a forward portion which areslidably engaged together, with said rearward portion fixedly secured toone of said outer rails, said forward portion slidably moveable relativeto said rearward portion of said latch member, and said forward portionbeing formed to define said forwardly extending latch portion which isselectively moveable in lineal directions for selectively engaging therack frame of the server system rack.
 10. The drawer according to claim9, wherein said forward portion is formed to define a tapered nosesection which tapers radially inward from a larger size to a smallersize in a direction which extends from said rearward portion toward therack frame of the server system rack.
 11. The drawer according to claim10, wherein said rearward portion and said forward portion of said latchmember each have generally cylindrical shapes, said rearward portionhaving an outer periphery which, on a forward section thereof, isenlarged to define a head, and said forward portion having a rearwardend section which is sized for receiving said head and being crimpedaround said head to slidably secure said forward portion to saidrearward portion.
 12. The drawer according to claim 11, wherein saidlatch member further comprising a bias spring which extends between saidrearward portion and said forward portion of said latch member to urgesaid forward portion into a forwardly disposed position relative to saidrearward portion; and said forward and said rearward portions of saidlatch member having interior chambers which are defined for housing saidbias spring.
 13. A drawer for a server system rack, comprising incombination: a tray; an input device and a display mounted to said tray,with said display monitor pivotally mounted to said tray for angularlymoving from a downward, storage position into an upright, viewingposition; telescoping slide assemblies having inner rails and outerrails, said outer rails mounted to the server system rack and said innerrails mounted to said tray to movably secure said tray to the serversystem rack, such that said tray is movable from an inward position,substantially disposed within the server system rack, to an outwardposition, extending outward of the server system rack; stationary mountssecured in fixed relation to said outer rails of said telescoping slideassemblies, rearward of said tray; an electronic switch mounted to saidstationary mounts, said electronic switch selectively operable toconnect said keyboard and said flat panel display to selected ones of aplurality of servers; a first cable set which connects said electronicswitch to said input device and the flat panel display; a plurality ofcable sets connecting the plurality of servers to the electronic switch;a flexible cable arm secured between said tray and one of saidstationary mounts; and cable retention members securing said first cableset to said flexible cable arm.
 14. The drawer according to claim 13,wherein said stationary mounts comprise a stationary shelf which extendsbetween said outer slide rails, rearward of said tray.
 15. The draweraccording to claim 13, wherein said stationary mount comprises mountingbrackets formed from rearward end portions of respective ones of saidouter rails of said slide rails, and said mounting brackets extending todefine U-shaped channel having slots formed on interior sides of themounting brackets for receiving mounting lugs secured to said electronicswitch.
 16. The drawer according to claim 13, a toolless fastenermounted to at least one end of each of said outer rails, said toollessfastener having a latch member with a forwardly extending latch portionwhich is selectively moveable in a lineal direction to selectivelyengage within a rack frame of the server system rack.
 17. The draweraccording to claim 15, wherein at least one respective end of each saidouter rails of said slide rail assemblies are mounted to the serversystem rack by mounting brackets which moveable sections that areslidably coupled to said respective ends of said outer rails, such thatsaid moveable sections are free to slidably move relative to respectiveones of said outer rails, for telescopically adjusting longitudinalcombined lengths of said moveable sections and said respective ones ofsaid outer rails, for fitting a horizontal depth of the server systemrack; and said mounting brackets further comprising mounting tabs whichextend outward of one side of said mounting brackets, opposite saidrespective ends of said slide rails, for engaging within mountingapertures in a rack frame of the server system rack.
 18. The draweraccording to claim 17, wherein said toolless fastener comprises: abracket having an elongated body, a first tab and a second tab whichextend transverse to said elongated body, with said first tab beingspaced apart from said second tab, said first tab having a slot formedinto a side thereof and said second tab being disposed on a terminal endof said elongated body, said second tab having an aperture which isaligned in fixed relation with said slot formed in said first tab; alatch member further having a guide portion which extends adjacent toand slidably engages said elongated body of said bracket, and said latchmember further having flange which extends transverse to said guideportion, a post which extends from said flange generally parallel tosaid guide portion, and a latch tab which defines said forwardlyextending latch portion and which extends parallel to said guide portionand outward of said flange, transverse to said flange; said latch memberbeing slidably engaged with said bracket, with said guide portion ofsaid latch member extending adjacent to said elongated body of saidbracket, said guide portion of said latch member having an apertureslidably receiving said first tab of said bracket, and said latch tabextending through said aperture in said second tab, and said postextending from said flange of said latch member into said slot in saidfirst tab of said bracket; a bias member extending between said firsttab of said bracket and said flange of said latch member, such that saidlatch member is urged toward said second member with said latch tabprotruding outward of said aperture of said latch tab; and twoprotuberant members extending from said second tab member of saidbracket, in a direction in which said latch tab protrudes from withinsaid aperture of said latch tab, wherein said two protuberant membersand said latch tab are lineally aligned to extend in parallel,transverse from a line along which said two protuberant members and saidlatch tab are lineally aligned, for fitting within mounting apertures ofthe rack frame of the server system rack.
 19. The drawer according toclaim 17, wherein said latch member of said toolless fastener comprisesa rearward portion and a forward portion which are slidably engagedtogether, with said rearward portion fixedly secured to one of saidouter rails, said forward portion slidably moveable relative to saidrearward portion of said latch member, and said forward portion beingformed to define said forwardly extending latch portion which isselectively moveable in lineal directions for selectively engaging therack frame of the server system rack; a bias spring which extendsbetween said rearward portion and said forward portion of said latchmember to urge said forward portion into a forwardly disposed positionrelative to said rearward portion; said rearward portion and saidforward portion each having generally cylindrical shapes, wherein saidforward portion is formed to define a tapered nose section which tapersradially inward at a taper of approximately twenty degrees, from alarger size to a smaller size, in a direction which extends from saidrearward portion toward the rack frame of the server system rack; andsaid forward and said rearward portions having interior chambers whichare defined for housing said bias spring, said rearward portion havingan outer periphery which, on a forward section thereof, is enlarged todefine a head, and said forward portion having a rearward end sectionwhich is sized for receiving said head and being crimped around saidhead to slidably secure said forward portion to said rearward portion.20. A drawer for a server system rack, comprising in combination: atray; an input device and a display mounted to said tray, with saiddisplay monitor pivotally mounted to said tray for angularly moving froma downward, storage position into an upright, viewing position;telescoping slide assemblies having inner rails and outer rails, saidouter rails mounted to the server system rack and said inner railsmounted to said tray to movably secure said tray to the server systemrack, such that said tray is movable from an inward position,substantially disposed within the server system rack, to an outwardposition, extending outward of the server system rack; stationary mountssecured in fixed relation to said outer rails of said telescoping slideassemblies, rearward of said tray; an electronic switch mounted to saidstationary mounts, said electronic switch selectively operable toconnect said keyboard and said flat panel display to selected ones of aplurality of servers; a first cable set which connects the electronicswitch to the input device and the flat panel display; a plurality ofcable sets connecting the plurality of servers to the electronic switch;a flexible cable arm secured between said tray and one of saidstationary mounts, said flexible cable arm having a plurality oflinkages which are pivotally connected by hinges, said plurality oflinkages together having a first end and a second end, wherein saidfirst end is pivotally fastened to the rack at a first fixed positionrelative to the rack and said second end is pivotally fastened to saiddrawer at a second fixed position relative to said drawer, and whereinsaid plurality of linkages extend from said first fixed position tosecond fixed position as said drawer is moved between said inward andoutward positions relative to the rack; and a toolless fastener mountedto at least one end of each of said outer rails, said toolless fastenerhaving a latch member with a forwardly extending latch portion which isselectively moveable in a lineal direction to selectively engage withina rack frame of the server system rack.
 21. The drawer according toclaim 20, wherein said toolless fastener comprises: a bracket having anelongated body, a first tab and a second tab which extend transverse tosaid elongated body, with said first tab being spaced apart from saidsecond tab, said first tab having a slot formed into a side thereof andsaid second tab being disposed on a terminal end of said elongated body,said second tab having an aperture which is aligned in fixed relationwith said slot formed in said first tab; a latch member further having aguide portion which extends adjacent to and slidably engages saidelongated body of said bracket, and said latch member further havingflange which extends transverse to said guide portion, a post whichextends from said flange generally parallel to said guide portion, and alatch tab which defines said forwardly extending portion and whichextends parallel to said guide portion and outward of said flange,transverse to said flange; said latch member being slidably engaged withsaid bracket, with said guide portion of said latch member extendingadjacent to said elongated body of said bracket, said guide portion ofsaid latch member having an aperture slidably receiving said first tabof said bracket, and said latch tab extending through said aperture insaid second tab, and said post extending from said flange of said latchmember into said slot in said first tab of said bracket; a bias memberextending between said first tab of said bracket and said flange of saidlatch member, such that said latch member is urged toward said secondmember with said latch tab protruding outward of said aperture of saidlatch tab; and two protuberant members extending from said second tabmember of said bracket, in a direction in which said latch tab protrudesfrom within said aperture of said latch tab, wherein said twoprotuberant members and said latch tab are lineally aligned to extend inparallel, transverse from a line along which said two protuberantmembers and said latch tab are lineally aligned, for fitting withinmounting apertures of the rack frame of the server system rack.
 22. Thedrawer according to claim 20, wherein said latch member of said toollessfastener comprises a rearward portion and a forward portion which areslidably engaged together, with said rearward portion fixedly secured toone of said outer rails, said forward portion slidably moveable relativeto said rearward portion of said latch member, and said forward portionbeing formed to define said forwardly extending latch portion which isselectively moveable in lineal directions for selectively engaging therack frame of the server system rack; a bias spring which extendsbetween said rearward portion and said forward portion of said latchmember to urge said forward portion into a forwardly disposed positionrelative to said rearward portion; said rearward portion and saidforward portion each having generally cylindrical shapes, wherein saidforward portion is formed to define a tapered nose section which tapersradially inward at a taper of approximately twenty degrees, from alarger size to a smaller size, in a direction which extends from saidrearward portion toward the rack frame of the server system rack; andsaid forward and said rearward portions having interior chambers whichare defined for housing said bias spring, said rearward portion havingan outer periphery which, on a forward section thereof, is enlarged todefine a head, and said forward portion having a rearward end sectionwhich is sized for receiving said head and being crimped around saidhead to slidably secure said forward portion to said rearward portion.